Nigel Farage just showed you how influential Reform UK now is on Labour Party

The quasi-nationalisation of British Steel - and with it the likely scrapping of Net Zero targets - is not only a moral victory for Nigel Farage but a sign of how Reform UK is driving the agenda of this Labour government. Had Reform not highlighted the plight of British Steel in Scunthorpe recently it is undeniable that Parliament would never have been recalled.

The Tories meanwhile are left flailing since their Net Zero agenda helped undermine the UK steel industry for years, while the need to import coal from Japan - rather than utilise coal from Cumbria - can be attributed to policies by both the former Conservative and current Labour governments.

Top marks for Reform. The insurgent party - on course for victory in the Runcorn by-election and likely to win big in May's local elections - knows its opportunity lies not only in splitting the Right-wing vote but sucking support from Labour. Indeed, merely taking votes from the Tories could be a gift to Labour.

But - given Reform's growing support in traditional Labour heartlands and the emergence of countless three-way-marginals nationwide - Reform knows it only wins serious power by grabbing votes from Sir Keir Starmer's party.

Little wonder Reform's previous 'Thatcherism redux' is giving way to more interventionist policies. Red Wall supporters are patriots but patriots who want the Government to do more for ordinary working people.

These are voters who love their country, want strong borders and tougher sentencing, but who also like the NHS, believe in state ownership over foreign takeaways, and want to see the Government support strategic local industry.

Labour knows it must counter the Reform threat by directly appealing to these voters, such as those in Runcorn or Wales (where, in both instances, Reform looks set to beat Labour). If that means ditching policies beloved of Islington liberals - such as Net Zero - well that's the way the popcorn pops.

Yet herein lies risk for Labour. The Greens and Lib Dems are ready to win over these voters and maybe even the Tories fancy their chances. But Labour now realises the Farage threat is real, with polls showing Reform either tied with, fractionally behind or ahead of Labour.

And where are the Conservatives? After fourteen years of failure - and having consigned the British steel industry to near history while pretty much doing away with Britain's borders - the party of Boris Johnson is flatlining.

Understandable therefore that Farage rebuffed under-fire Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's overtures for deals at local council level, knowing full well Reform would be tainted by association, and instead benefit from clear blue water between itself and the Conservative Party.

To be clear, the quasi-nationalisation of British Steel must also be seen in the context of the Donald Trump tariffs, as well as growing antipathy towards Chinese ownership of a strategically important industry.

But, without Farage and Reform breathing down Labour's neck, Parliament would never have been recalled and the Government would not now be in effective control of British Steel.

Sir Keir Starmer might be the UK Prime Minister, but Nigel Farage is fast becoming the string-puller of British politics, with Reform eyeing victory in May and even greater power in the years ahead.